Daily Devotional
Do You Have Hope for the Future?
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
Matthew 6:19-20
July 28, 2022
Ponder This
Let’s suppose you’re down in the Caribbean on a luxurious cruise ship and everything is beautiful. You say, “This is the best vacation of my life.” Then the captain says, “I have an announcement ladies and gentlemen. We’re going to continue the entertainment. The cooks are going to do an even better job than normal with the cuisine. The crew is going to go all out to make you comfortable.” Then he says, “But there has been one change in plans. We’re not going to sail to any one port. Instead, we’re going to go out in the middle of the ocean and sail around in circles until we run out of food, fuel, and water. And when we do, we’re going to empty the ship and sink it."
At that moment, no matter how much you’re enjoying the cruise, it doesn’t seem to be quite as good, does it? When you realize you’re going around in a meaningless circle, it doesn’t matter how beautiful the weather is. It is a hopeless, joyless matter. In the same way, the joy of this present life will not diminish the fact there is no hope for the future for those outside of Christ. We should seek to meet people’s temporal needs as we are able, but first and foremost, we must point them to Christ. Apart from Him, there is no hope.
- How are you tempted to focus on current comforts and pleasures over the future reality of life eternal with God?
- Who do you know who needs to hear about the hope of Christ today?
Practice This
Take time to share with the person you identified about the hope of Jesus.
For Your Gift to the Ministry
What Happens When We Pray?
Discover the power and purpose of prayer through this Write the Word Scripture Journal. You'll discover that faithful prayer is impactful because God hears the prayers of His people and keeps His promises to those who call on His name. With space for personal reflections, prayers, and insights, this journal focuses on how prayer transforms your heart, deepens your faith, and invites God’s presence into your daily life.
